Woodworking Industry: Taking a Closer Look

It's been an interesting, hectic four weeks. I suppose any time you pack your bags, say goodbye to your 10-month-old son and spend six days in Las Vegas covering the 2009 AWFS Vegas fair, you're not having a "normal" month. Toss in a major home renovation and the challenge of producing a magazine in a condensed time frame and perhaps you have a better idea of what I'm talking about.

If you're a betting man, Las Vegas must be heaven. You're greeted by slot machines when you step out of the hotel elevator, gaming tables that are open 24/7, and sports books that offer such obscure action as which team will score the first free throw in the second half.

Sam Maloof passed away May 21 at the age of 93. In March 2005, I was fortunate to spend a day with Sam, his wife Beverly, co-workers Larry White, Mike Johnson and David Wade, and business manager Roz Bock for a Woodshop News profile. By now, everything that could possibly be said about Sam and his incredible woodworking career has been written time and time again. As a furniture maker and shop owner, Sam was in a league of his own.

With the AWFS fair in Las Vegas on the horizon, the value of attending trade shows has been a hot topic recently. While the number of exhibitors is down at this year’s AWFS (please see story on Page 6), all trade shows — including IWF in Atlanta, TSI Expos and WoodWorks Shows — remain an important resource for shops of all sizes.

The other day I had my atlas out, looking at the route I’ll be taking on my next shop-profile trip for Woodshop News. Yes, I am aware it is quicker to simply punch in a town’s name using a search engine on my computer, but I’ve always been intrigued by looking at maps and my National Geographic atlas.